Two goals in two second half minutes put a huge dent in Lincoln United’s play off hopes, as they lost 3-1 at home to Gresley.
A double from Alex Steadman and one from Eric Graves sealed the three points, after Andrew Toyne had earlier equalised.
Lincoln had a goal disallowed, and were denied on several occasions by Gresley ‘keeper Liam Roberts, leaving them eight points off the play off places.
Lincoln started the brighter of the two sides, and should have been ahead after just three minutes. Scott Ruthven firing inches wide when one-on-one with Roberts, after being played in by Andy Hutchinson.
Lincoln’s pressure continued, and this time had three chances to take the lead. 10 minutes in, Hutchinson saw his effort parried into the path of Danny Brooks, whose shot was blocked, which found its way back to Hutchinson, whose powerful effort was deflected behind for a corner.
Roberts again superbly denied Lincoln, an acrobatic save preventing Matt Cotton from scoring a magnificent volley.
But it was Gresley who took the lead through a penalty, Jason Field upended Kieran O’Connell and Steadman confidently finished off from the spot. He placed his spot kick to the left of Robert Peet in the Lincoln goal.
However, it only took ten minutes for Lincoln to draw level. Andrew Toyne turned on the edge of the Gresley area and Roberts could do nothing to prevent Toyne’s venomous strike from finding the back of the net.
Lincoln created even more chances in the second half, Liam Roberts coming to the rescue for Gresley again, a remarkable save kept the scores level when Sam Duncum volleyed low towards Roberts’ left corner, but Roberts’ strong left hand denied the Lincoln winger.
Lincoln then had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside. Hutchinson made the most of a defensive error but the linesman stated that Hutchinson was in an offside position as the initial ball was played, much to the frustration of Dave Frecklington and the Lincoln bench.
But then, on 72 minutes and 74 minutes, Gresley took the game away from the Whites. Steadman doubled his tally, bundling in from a corner, and then Eric Graves was played through on goal and calmly slotted past Peet.
Lincoln were still able to threaten the Gresley goal though. Matt Cotton missed an open goal, following up from Hutchinson’s header which had hit the crossbar.
Gresley’s gritty defending saw them through to the final whistle, and helped claim an invaluable three points. Lincoln will rue their missed chances, in a game which they so easily could have won.
The Whites travel to Tividale next week, but after today’s loss, their hopes of finishing in a play off spot have been seriously hit.
